It is all about rebounding for Shaun Willett. The points take care of themselves.

The Queens Royals (4-1) senior forward has four double-doubles in their first five games. He tied his career-high 22 points in their 90-73 win against West Georgia (1-2), and produced 14 boards.

“I just try to go get every rebound I can, every time I can, not just for myself, but just to give us a second chance on offense, or to get it on defense,” Willett said. “I just focus on trying to get boards.”

Said junior point guard Daniel Carr: “He’ll tell you, ‘when you shoot it, man just shoot it. I’ll go get it if you miss.’ He does focus on rebounding more than he does scoring. He knows the points are going to come.”

Willett produced a career-high 16 rebounds in Queens’ season opening 101-87 win against William Jewell in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. He is second on the team in scoring, with 92 points, behind Daniel Carr’s 96. Carr scored a career-high 27 points against the Wolves.

“He is a monster on the glass—an absolute beast on the glass,” Carr said. “You can almost put up anything. If it comes off, Shaun is going to go get it. He is a beast.”

Said Queens coach Bart Lundy of Willett: “He has really dedicated himself to the defensive end, like maybe he hadn’t done in part of his career. He has always been an excellent offensive rebounder. Now he is a great defensive rebounder as well. He and Danny provide us with grit and toughness that is hard for other people to match.”

Willett, who transferred to Queens from Indian River State College in 2017, was a role player off the bench in the Royals’ 32-4 season, the best in program history. He made one start in 36 appearances, averaging 9.3 points per game and 4.9 rebounds. While former Royals like Ike Agusi, Jalin Alexander and Todd Withers propelled last season’s run in the NCAA tournament, Willett is stepping into that leadership role.

“Last year I really had guys bring me along like Ike, Jalin and Todd,” Willett said. “Just watching them from last year made it easier to convert myself into being a leader this year, and really just bringing guys along with me. Guys like D.C. and Lewis [Diankulu, a senior center] help me every day in practice with having that vocal energy.”